DELAWARE TOWNSHIP – Sandy Ridge Baptist Church will celebrate its bicentennial this weekend, Oct. 20-21, aiming to give individual members and the community an opportunity to tell and hear stories of the past and present days of the church and what the future might hold.

The congregation dates its beginnings from 1812 with The Rev. Charles Bartolette as the first pastor. In the early years, services were held in individual homes. The congregation increased in numbers and in 1817, it was decided to build a church. After much debate, it was finally agreed that the site for the meeting house would be on a ridge in the Garden State between the towns of Sergeantsville and Stockton, in Delaware Township, a part of Hunterdon County.

David Butterfoss and Parritt Vandolah, for nominal sums, furnished grounds for church and cemetery purposes. With his own hands, Vandolah dug the first grave in the cemetery for Rebecca Doyle. The first primitive meeting house was erected in the summer of 1817 and opened for worship in January, 1818. On Oct. 24, 1818, a church was formed with 19 members and it officially became Sandy Ridge Baptist Church. Two people, Samuel R. Hunt and Joseph Britain, were baptized on Oct. 25, 1818. Bartolette preached every other Sunday until 1832.

The building served its purpose until 1866 when taken down and the present house erected in its place. The second home was dedicated on Nov. 27, 1867. From Bartolette to current Pastor John Valiant, 34 men have served as pastors.

"The church is a wonderful 'family sized' congregation whose members care deeply for each other and enjoy our times of fellowship together as well as enjoy worshipping our Lord together," said Valiant, who has been a part-time pastor at Sandy Ridge for 20 years. "All are welcome to visit any Sunday at 11 a.m."

Sandy Ridge is a rural church at 47 Sandy Ridge Road, situated near a wooded area and away from towns. The exquisite rock exterior is still as beautiful and grand today as it was when it was built nearly 200 years ago. Northwest of the church is the cemetery.

The church has made a difference for generations of families that have worshipped here. It is not just a building and programs, but all about relationships and simply sharing life and being open and available to others.

A historic tour of the church will be given from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. There will be a petting zoo, local emergency vehicles, food, local band, gift basket drawing, Girl and Boy Scouts running activities and the Delaware Township historical group. At 7 p.m., Kira Shcherbakova, a Christian singer-songwriter will perform. Events are free of charge.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, the church will host an 11 a.m. worship service with special guest speakers and a luncheon to follow.